Owindia | Page 9

however, there arose a feeling among

her people in the camp, which appeared to be unanimous, not to leave
her poor mangled body deserted in the lodge, but at once to commit it
to the earth. Accordingly the women ceased their wailing, there was a
call for action, and each one bestirred himself with as much earnestness
and self-restraint as possible. Two or three of the men started off to dig
the grave (a work of no small labour at that time when, be it
remembered, the frost was hardly out of the ground), others gathered
round the women who were wrapping the deceased in her blanket, with
her shawl and handkerchief, her beaded leggings, and moccasins,
which were hunted out, one by one, and put on her with loving, albeit
trembling hands. Then the poor lifeless form was lifted out of the tent,
and carried a few yards further back from the river, to where the grave
was being made ready. Here all was soon prepared; silently, reverently
the body was lowered into its shallow resting place; the earth was
thrown over it, then a young fir-tree was cut down, shorn of its bark,
and driven upright in the ground, and a few streamers of coloured rag
or ribbon, furnished by the women, tied on to the top of the pole. The
task was ended, and the young mother of twenty-eight years, who
awoke that morning in the full bloom of health and vigour, was left to
slumber on in that long sleep, which shall be broken only on the
morning of the Resurrection!
And now, indeed, there was nothing more to be done, they must flee
from that desecrated spot as soon as possible. With one accord, every
tent and lodge was taken down, bundles were packed, canoes were
lifted into the water, and in less than two hours from the
commencement of these operations, the whole work of packing and
dislodging was effected, and six good-sized canoes, with three or four
smaller ones, were bearing their freight of men, women, and children,
to the opposite bank of the river.
In describing the events of that morning but little mention has been
made of Michel's children; they were not, however, forgotten. As soon
as the first shock of the discovery was over, and the women had a little
expended their feelings and emotions in the tears and wail of sorrow,
they began to turn their attention to the motherless little ones. And first
they gave them food, which would be an Indian's preliminary step
under every emergency; then, they folded kind motherly arms around
them, and imprinted warm kisses on the terror- stricken faces; and by

all such fond endearments they strove to make them forget their sorrow:
for an Indian, passive and undemonstrative as he may be under
ordinary circumstances, is full of love and tenderest offices of pity
when real occasion calls them forth. It was thus, then, that the children
were taken and dispersed among the various families in the rapid flight
from their recent camping grounds. The canoes had started, and were
being paddled at full speed across the river, when suddenly, to the
dismay and amazement of every one, the figure of Michel was seen
standing by the river brink! Had a spectre at that moment presented
itself before them, they could hardly have been more astonished; but
the poor man's actions were at all times strange and unaccountable; and
that he should have released himself in so short an interval from his
bonds, was only consistent with the whole character of the man who
had always proved himself equal to every emergency, and defied any
attempt to thwart his designs. The language used by the miserable man
on the present occasion was bitter and abusive; it related to his children,
who he said were being taken away that they might be delivered to the
white man; but his words fell idly upon the ears of the Indians, who
only shuddered as they gazed upon his dark visage now distorted with
passion; and his whole figure, to which portions of the cords which had
bound him were still clinging, presenting the appearance of a man
possessed, the veritable Nakani--(wild man of the woods,) in whom the
Indians believe, and whom they so greatly dread.
It was not until the Indians had reached the other side of the river,
which at that part may be a mile and a quarter wide, that they collected
together and became aware that _one of the children was missing!_
That this should be so, and that in their terror and haste to depart they
had forgotten or overlooked the baby, still a nursling, who must have
been crawling about outside the camp during the fatal tragedy of that
morning, may